Music , passion and Tattoos

Something that occurred to me recently while walking somewhere. I am hopelessly dependent on music. I've always liked and had music but at this stage I don't think I can live without it. This realisation came about during one particular line of a song.

"And he Tattoo'd the blues deep into your soul,
left you burning with a passion that never let you go"


Music has affected everything in my life. From the drinks I drink to the style of clothes I wear. But then again this is nothing new everybody tries to emulate there idols. In the general case it is applied to "celebritism" in general. That is where all the fads and brands come from. But with music especially it is more like buying into a lifestyle or image that has been turned into a brand. With my personal favourite type of music Rock music. Its buying into the image that you are answerable to nobody, free to do whatever you want. From the tour antics to the legendary recording sessions. Its a lifestyle, is it the excess or the money that draws people to it.

No, I don't think so. The best way to describe this is by reference to "Sailing to Byzantium" by W.B Yeats. The premise of the poem is that the only way to actually achieve immortality is by creating great works of art that live on past the ages. Whether consciously or not, a lot of rock bands have achieved this Rolling Stones, Beatles and Led Zeppelin to name a few. All though the bands previously mentioned have so far stood the test of time one does wonder whether they would have been as popular without the lifestyle that went along with it.

One example is when the Rolling Stones went to write and record "Exile on Main Street". They went to Keith Richards Chateau in France. Where they had an extended drug and alcohol induced blues jam which turned into one of my favourite albums. A French photographer was there and the pictures captured almost the essence of what went into making the album. There is one picture the shows Keith Richards asleep after an all night session on what would become "Tumbling Dice". It is reported that even after he was asleep his hands were still playing the chords. How different is that to how records are made today?

How cool does it sound to pack up and go to a Chateau in France for a few weeks to write, record and party. Thats the lifestyle that rock sells and represents that excess and luxury. Its breaking away from convention, not working at a desk or in an office from 9 to 5. Songs about being a rock star often sum this up pretty well, listen to "God Gave Rock and Roll to you" by Argent or "Rockstar" by Nickelback if you want examples.

That's what missing from music today the sense of spontaneity that there used to be, not knowing what was going to happen next or what these guys were going to do. But alas those days are gone...no more will there be stories of TV's being thrown out of hotel windows, or cars been driven into hotel pools. It seems that we are stuck with watered down music and personalities. This Cartoon sums up my point pretty well